Week 7 in the NFL was all about redemption for former USC Trojan quarterbacks. Sam Darnold got his confidence and swagger back against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. Caleb Williams' improvement this season was exciting for another week. Makai Lemon joined the list of Trojan players with a very encouraging performance on Monday Night Football.
Here is my breakdown of how some former USC football players fared in the seventh week of the NFL season:
Caleb Williams
The new version of Caleb Williams showed up for another week. Caleb was 22-33, had 308 yards passing, and 2 touchdowns. He outshone Drake Maye in Week 7 and showed he is ready to be in the top-5 quarterback conversation. He is playing on time while also being a dynamic big-play creator. This is a dangerous
version of Caleb Williams the Bears are getting. If this continues, he could be headed toward some MVP conversations.
Drake London
Since the return of Michael Penix Jr., Drake London has been consistently impactful. Penix Jr. ensures that London gets his fair share of targets, and as a result, the Arkansas Falcons offense has been much better. London this past week had 10 targets, resulting in 7 catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. Penix had his best passing performance, leading the Falcons to a win over the undefeated San Francisco 49ers. Things are clicking with Penix Jr. at the helm, and that will only mean London's dominance will continue.
Ja'Kobi Lane
Lamar Jackson sat out another week, and his return should come in Week 8. That hindered the success Lane was able to have against the Cincinnati Bengals. Zay Flowers matched the production of the Bengals' dominant receivers; Lane could not join the party. Lane was only able to muster up 3 catches for 25 yards. With his talent and value to the offense, a breakout game should be on the horizon.
Woody Marks
Woody Marks got a nice workload against the New York Giants, and he had an above-average game. He racked up 66 yards on the ground and 1 catch for 15 yards. He does just enough for the Texans to have a serviceable run game on a game-to-game basis. However, having another back to complement him and take the pressure off of him is definitely needed.
Calen Bullock
Calen Bullock made his presence felt against the Giants, flying all across the field. Bullock tallied 4 tackles. The Texans will need more turnovers from Bullock to help get this defense back to elite play.
Jordan Addison
Addison returned to action in Week 7, but he posted less-than-impactful production. He had 2 catches for 20 yards. He can be an extremely valuable weapon for Kyler Murray and help elevate the Vikings' offense. He just needs to make the most of whatever workload he is given.
Marshawn Lloyd
Josh Jacobs returned to action, but Lloyd still got a fair workload against the Detroit Lions. Lloyd had 6 carries for 20 yards and 2 catches for 15 yards. Lloyd will have to make the most of the workload he is given for the rest of the season. If he can ensure Jacobs has fresh legs and less wear on his tires, it will make a huge difference for the Packers' run game.
Leonard Williams
Leonard Williams did not bring down Patrick Mahomes for a sack, but he did make a handful of plays. He had 3 tackles in the game and a pass deflection. Williams played a huge part in limiting his former teammate Kenneth Walker to just 36 yards on the ground in the game.
Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold got back on the right track in Week 7. Darnold was 20-for-28, had 257 yards passing, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. The big thing in this game for Darnold was that he was under more control and more confident. He led this offense just like he did last season. This game was reassuring and showed the Seahawks' offense will be just fine this season.
Chris Roland-Wallace
The Seattle Seahawks offense had an unimpressive performance and got back on the right track. Not the same could be said for the Kansas City Chiefs' defense. Still, Chris Roland-Wallace made a few plays and held his own against one of the best receivers in the league. Roland-Wallace finished the game with 5 tackles and 1 pass deflection.
Makai Lemon
Makai Lemon had his most impactful week of the season this week. Lemon went for 7 catches, 67 yards, and a touchdown. It was a very encouraging performance for the rookie. The Eagles' season was wrapped up with the Jalen Hurts news, but getting great play out of Makai Lemin could end up being a nice bright side.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC NFL report - Caleb Williams, Sam Darnold win before MNF battle
